Apparatus for electrocuting insects



.luBy'lZ 1934. wl sYKEs APPARATUS FOR ELECTROCUTING INSECTS Filed June 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 17, 1934. w. sYKEs APPARATUS FOR ELECTROCUTING INSECTS Filed June 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2V Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES AreNr oli-"Fics APPARATUS Fon ELEcTRocUTiNG INsEc'rs Wilfred Sykes, Chicago, Ill.-y Appncatien .time s, 1931, serial No. 542,979 1 claim. (0149-112) The invention relates to apparatus for electrocuting insects, and has for itsprimary 'object the provision of devices of the kind described which M are efficient, durable and of simple construction. 9 One form of the invention is embodied in a panel which preferably comprises a rectangular frame adapted to be mounted in a door, or the equivalent. Two oppositely disposed members ofthe frame consist of metallic channel members in which a plurality of insulating members, preferably formed of porcelain, are mounted. The insulating members are made of various lengths so that they may be assembled to give substantially any over all lengths desired.

Two wires connected to any suitable source of high tension current are strung between the insulators mounted in one panel and the insulators mounted in the other, the wires being arranged so that alternate strands thereof lie adjacent 2D each other. The wires constitute an open circuit,

and the arrangement is such -that a fly, or otherinsect, comi-ng in -contact with two of these strands will be electrocuted.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation, partly broken away, of a panel of the type described;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a porcelain insulator which forms part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a baci; View of the porcelain insulator shown in Fig. 2, the insulator being shown in connection with a channel which also forms part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing "a porcelain insulator of less length;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing an insulator of less length provided with terminals;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

0i Fig, 8 is a section also taken on line '7-7 of Fig. 6, but showing a metallic terminal applied to the insulator;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary back view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

- Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of a door showing the improved apparatus mounted thereon, and

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

T Referring for the present to Figs. 1 to 9, in-

clusive, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the reference character 10 designates generally a panel which comprises n "a rectangular frame 11. The frame 11 comprises 5lhorizontal members 12 and 13 at the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively, and side members or channels 15. The channels 15 and the members 12 and 13 are preferably formed from sheet metal and the ends of the channels 15 are prfertbly welded to the ends of the members 12 an 1 As best shown in Fig. 2, each of the channels 15 comprises vwalls 18 and 19 extending at right angles to each other. The walls 18 and 19 arey provided with inwardly extending anges 20 and 65 y 21, respectively.

The channels 15 provide means for holding a plurality of insulating blocks. These blocks are illustrated at 25, 25a and 25h in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, respectively. The blocks are substantially identical in construction but are of different lengths so that a number of them may be assembled upon the channels to give a panel of Vany height de-v sired. f

nach of the insulating blocks 25, 25a and 25h 75 comprises a body portion 26 which'l has a base lor toe portion 27 formed integra-l with it.y The toe portions 27 preferably lit snugly in the channels 15 and prevent lateral displacement of the blocks relative to the channel. The blocks are assembled with the channel by inserting them in one end thereof. As shown, each of the insulating blocks 25, 25a and 25h is provided with shallow grooves 28 in its body portion. Projecting from each insulating block and preferably formed integral therewith is a iiange 29, the flange 29 being preferably arranged to extend parallel to the toe 27, and one surface of the flange 29 being substantially flush with the bottom of the grooves 28. Each flange 29 is provided with deep and shallow 901 ridges 31 and 32, respectively, the notches 31 eX- tending preferably through the entire width of the flange. The notches 31 and 32 are disposed alternately for a purpose which will presently appear.

Strung from the insulating blocks mounted in one of the channels 15 and the insulating blocks mounted in the other channel 15 are two wires 34 and 35, one end of each of the wires being knotted, as at 34a and 35a, respectively. As best shown in 100 Fig. 9, the knotted end of the wire 34 is secured in the slot 31 of the uppermost insulator block on the right hand side (Fig. 9) of the panel, the knotted end of the wire 35 being secured in a slot 32 which is adjacent the slot 31. The wires are 105 then strung back and forth in such manner that alternating strands of the wires 34 and 35 lie adjacent each other, the strands being spaced from each other a suitable distance.

As best shown in Fig. 9, the wire 34 will be 110 threaded through the deep slots 31 and the wire 35 will be threaded through the shallow slots 32. End portions of each wire extending vertically between the slots will be spaced from each other a distance which is determined by the difference in the depth of the deep and shallow slots. 'Ihis prevents the wires from short-circuiting.

The lowermost insulator block in Fig. 9 is an insulating block h which is provided with metallic terminals 36 and37. The wire 35 passes through the groove 28 with which the terminal 36 is associated and thence through the slot 32 alined with the last mentioned groove 28. The wire 35 then passes to the next lower shallow slot 32 and returns to the other side of the panel from which it is drawn back to pass through the lowermost slot 32 in the block 25b. The free end of the wire 35 is then returned underneath the flange 29 on the block 25h to the uppermost slot 32 and thence through the uppermost slot 32 to the metallic terminal 36.

The metallic terminals 36 and 37 preferably comprise hollow rivets 39 adapted to fit snugly in apertures 39a provided in the block 2512. The construction is such that the tubular or hollow rivet may be inserted in one of the apertures, and after the wire has been wrapped around the rivet its ends may be riveted over to secure the wire to the block. The terminal 37 is constructed in the same manner as the terminal 36, but, in this instance, the wire 34 terminates at the terminal 37 and does not pass beyond it. The particular manner in which the wire 35 is strung between the insulators insures that it will not be short-circuited with the annular frame ll as the'terminal 36 is spaced a considerable distance from the frame. The terminals 36 and 37 are connected to any suitable source of high tension current by means of a brake (not shown) of usual construction having two metallic terminals adapted to project into the hollow rivets 39.

In Figs. 10 and 11, the panel 10 is shown in an opening 40 provided in a door 41. The panel is preferably positioned so that the grooved side of the insulating blocks will be spaced on the inner side of the door. These sides are then protected from rain, etc., and it is very unlikely that the ends of the wire strands will be short-circuited by moisture, etc. The panel 10 may be secured n the opening 40 by moldings 42, or the equivalent.

While I have shown and described certain embodirnents of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claim, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible, in View of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters` Patent, is:

Apparatus of the kind described comprising a frame provided with a pair of spaced channel members, a plurality of Yinsulating members, each insulating member having a body portion, an outwardly and rearwardly extending base portion in supported engagement with a channel member, and an outwardly extending flange having teeth formed by alternate deep notches and shallow notches therein, said body portion having parallel grooves in the outer face thereof in line with said notches, said base portion and ange being in spaced relation and extending substantially in parallelism from the same side of the body portion, and wires extending from the teeth of an insulating member supported in one channel member to the teeth of an insulating member supported in the other channel member with alternate wires connected in pairs by offset portions lying in a common plane, said connected pairs of wires arranged alternately in deep notches and shallow notches between the teeth so as to be in insulated, interleaved relation.

WILFRED SYKES.

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